ITU and Microsoft Launch Online Platform to Track ICT Development
29/10/2007 11:08
PR Newswire
KIGALI, Rwanda, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --
- Support for ICT infrastructure and capacity building pledged at
Connect Africa Summit
ITU Global View, a Microsoft Virtual Earth-based online platform to track
and help accelerate the implementation of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) goals in Africa, was launched today on the opening day of the
Connect Africa Summit.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Governments, along with industry, development banks and international
organisations, are gathered in Kigali to mobilise the human, financial and
technical resources required to expand the development of information and
communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure and ensure it is used
effectively in pursuit of the WSIS development goals for Africa.
The International Telecommunication Union and Microsoft Corp. today
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the Connect Africa summit
outlining how they will work together to build a security-enhanced,
inclusive and interoperable information society. They agreed to support
programmes enabling skills development and capacity building along with the
delivery of relevant applications and services in Africa. These would include
the delivery of a new online solution for all stakeholders to showcase and
track the implementation of development projects in Africa.
In addition, ITU and Microsoft will collaborate globally on
cyber-security and provide support for regulators in developing countries.
"We are very pleased that Microsoft, as an early signatory of the Connect
the World initiative, is stepping up its commitment to help address the
effective use of ICT infrastructure in Africa," said Dr. Hamadoun Toure,
secretary-general of the ITU. "Connect Africa is a call to action for the
private sector, and we are encouraged by the progress we have made together
with Microsoft and the scope of capacity building in Africa."
"Bringing the benefits of technology to the next 5 billion people will
require new approaches to development and new partnerships between
international organisations, governments and the private sector," said
Michael Rawding, vice president of the Unlimited Potential Group at
Microsoft, referring to the 1 billion people already connected to the
internet. "Through Unlimited Potential we are committed globally to applying
technology to advance social and economic opportunity, and we look forward to
working with ITU on shared development and technology goals."
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, Microsoft and ITU are
launching a flagship online visualisation platform called ITU Global View,
which is being demonstrated at the Connect Africa Summit in Kigali. Based on
Microsoft Virtual Earth, ITU Global View integrates a broad range of new and
existing data sources on global ICT for development accomplishments in
support of the WSIS goals. Easy to view, the software was developed in
alliance with IDV Solutions. The online platform will be hosted and
maintained by ITU, and it will be open to all stakeholders -- governments,
industry, international and regional organisations, as well as civil society
-- allowing users to check status, identify gaps and avoid overlap in
collaborative efforts to achieve the WSIS goals.
The ITU-Microsoft alliance also focuses on providing digital
opportunities for youth. Youth empowerment and capacity-building is essential
to accelerate sustainable social and economic growth toward a competitive
Africa. Microsoft and ITU will provide access to computer technology training
as well as opportunities to gain valuable work experience in the industry.
ITU and Microsoft will work to contribute to the development of the
Global Cybersecurity Agenda and its associated work programme to assist
developing countries with implementation. They will also explore
opportunities for Microsoft to support ITU programmes aimed at training
regulators and ICT policy-makers in developing countries as they address
fresh challenges associated with new information and communication
technologies.
About ITU
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and
communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments
and the private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140
years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum,
promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to
improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and
established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a
vast range of communications systems.
ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing
together the most influential representatives of government and the
telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for
the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.
From broadband internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from
aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based
meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and
next-generation networks, ITU continues to play a central role in helping the
world communicate.
About Microsoft Unlimited Potential
Microsoft, through its Unlimited Potential vision, is committed to making
technology more affordable, relevant and accessible for the 5 billion people
around the world who do not yet enjoy its benefits. The company aims to do so
by helping to transform education and foster a culture of innovation, and
through these means enable better jobs and opportunities. By working with
governments, intergovernmental organisations, nongovernmental organisations
and industry partners, Microsoft hopes to reach its first major milestone --
to reach the next 1 billion people who are not yet realising the benefits of
technology -- by 2015.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 13,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and
services in 138 countries and territories.
This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp
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for other purposes. Microsoft Corp shall not, at any time, be liable for any
special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of
contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the
use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting any kind of warranty.
Web site: http://www.microsoft.com
William Calarese, +1-917-319-9412, wcalares@microsoft.com, or Claudia Toth, +33-6-7418-7357, ctoth@microsoft.com, both of Microsoft; or Sanjay Acharya of ITU, +41-79-249-4861, sanjay.acharya@itu.int/ NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/contactus.mspx. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages./ Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO , AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org , PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com